Roman Lippe Route

Themed cycle routes along the River Lippe: from Detmold through the Ruhr Area as far as the Lower Rhine, cyclists can take a water-themed tour or follow the tracks of the Romans.

Cyclists can discover the Roman past of the Lippe hinterland on the Römer-Lippe-Route (Roman Lippe Route). This cycle path runs from Detmold through the Ruhr region until it reaches Xanten on the Lower Rhine. All along the banks of the Lippe, historic Roman sites wait to be discovered.

The 295-km main route is supplemented by eleven circuits devoted to individual themes and covering an additional 150 kilometres. Those interested in the theme of water should begin the route at the Hermannsdenkmal monument in Detmold and then follow the Lippe from its source in Bad Lippspringe to the Lower Rhine. However much the landscapes differ along the way, water continues to play a key role in the Teutoburg Forest, Sauerland, Münsterland, the Ruhr Metropolis and the Lower Rhine: cyclists will encounter bathing lakes, floodplains and canal systems with large locks.

However, those more interested in the ancient Romans should begin at the other end of the route in Colonia Ulpia Traiana, as Xanten was once known. More than 2000 years ago, legionaries were already using the Lippe as a key traffic and transport route for their advance into Germania, which was still largely unknown, and built numerous camps on the riverbanks. The Archäologische Park Xanten (Xanten Archaeological Park) Xanten serves as a starting point for the theme, offering an introduction to this period in history with an amphitheatre, parts of the old town wall, a harbour temple and several reconstructed buildings. Further on, the route shows where ancient Roman camps were found, as well as museums and spots to take a break and enjoy the special view. These include the Römermuseum Haltern (Haltern Roman Museum), the Römerpark Bergkamen (Bergkamen Roman Park) and the Römerlager Anreppen (Anreppen Roman Camp). At the end of the route, the Hermannsdenkmal monument in Detmold serves as a reminder of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD. The Roman Lippe Route gives cyclists an opportunity to discover the interesting and eventful history of the river.

More information:

Archäologische Park Xanten (Xanten Archaeological Park) and LVR Römer Museum (LVR Roman Museum:
March to October: Daily from 09:00 to 18:00
November: Daily from 09:00 to 17:00
December to February: Daily from 10:00 to 16:00